Our second ever Scorpio Ball is coming on November 7th! $8 to get in or $6 with a valid student ID. 18 yrs plus!
This is a costume party. As with any party, nothing is mandatory, but a costume is highly advised.
Where: 700 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Why: Because it's November and we want to celebrate elections (in a non-partisan way, celebrate the lovely scorpios that walk among us, and raise some funds for the incredible work that CEJ does throughout the year, fighting for workers' rights and accountable economic development!
Questions, concerns, or just to learn more about what we do give us a call at 892.5877.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
CEJ's new interns from UB School of Social Work
Bina Ahmed
I’m a graduate student at the School of Social Work at University at Buffalo with special interest in International Social Work and Community Organizing. I received my undergrad degree at the State University of New York at Geneseo in International Relations concentrating on War and Peace Studies. Since the completion of my Bachelors degree, I have worked in Toronto with the inner-city youth with behavioral and social problems in an effort to empower them by strengthening their soft skills and confidence building. I have also worked with the immigration population, especially women by developing and implementing relevant programs that would assist the population with smooth transition integration in the western society. Last year, I went to Pakistan, to assist a professor from the School of Social Work at UB in carrying out a research study on the conditions of women in Pakistan. The purpose of the study was to assess social conditions that contribute to women’s empowerment and their struggles in battling societal injustice. At CEJ, I am looking forward to work with excellent team of organizers and promoting CEJ's mission and vision.
Kwadwo Fosu
I’m a graduate student in the School of Social Work at The State University of New York at Buffalo. Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, I attained my Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Social Gerontology. My background work experience has mostly been with the elderly population ranging from hospitals, nursing homes and basic home care of the elderly. I got into the Social Work profession because I am person who is willing to reach out a helping hand to people in communities who need a voice to voice out their opinions and issues. It takes a lot to wake up daily and say I want to help people. I want people to educate people of all different races and background and make them realize the inequalities and injustices that surround us. As an intern at Coalition for Economic Justice, my goal is learn about community organizing, campaign activities and engaging with the community.
I’m a graduate student at the School of Social Work at University at Buffalo with special interest in International Social Work and Community Organizing. I received my undergrad degree at the State University of New York at Geneseo in International Relations concentrating on War and Peace Studies. Since the completion of my Bachelors degree, I have worked in Toronto with the inner-city youth with behavioral and social problems in an effort to empower them by strengthening their soft skills and confidence building. I have also worked with the immigration population, especially women by developing and implementing relevant programs that would assist the population with smooth transition integration in the western society. Last year, I went to Pakistan, to assist a professor from the School of Social Work at UB in carrying out a research study on the conditions of women in Pakistan. The purpose of the study was to assess social conditions that contribute to women’s empowerment and their struggles in battling societal injustice. At CEJ, I am looking forward to work with excellent team of organizers and promoting CEJ's mission and vision.
Kwadwo Fosu
I’m a graduate student in the School of Social Work at The State University of New York at Buffalo. Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, I attained my Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Sciences with a concentration in Social Gerontology. My background work experience has mostly been with the elderly population ranging from hospitals, nursing homes and basic home care of the elderly. I got into the Social Work profession because I am person who is willing to reach out a helping hand to people in communities who need a voice to voice out their opinions and issues. It takes a lot to wake up daily and say I want to help people. I want people to educate people of all different races and background and make them realize the inequalities and injustices that surround us. As an intern at Coalition for Economic Justice, my goal is learn about community organizing, campaign activities and engaging with the community.
Friday, October 2, 2009
2,000 words
The Boys
Condo buyer thanks the community for his $1.1 Million Condo...care of tax payers
Condo Buyer and Golisano pal around
Condo buyer thanks the community for his $1.1 Million Condo...care of tax payers
Condo Buyer and Golisano pal around
Worth a thousand words....
Golisano awaits more publicly subsidized tax breaks.
The Developer, the Politician, and Tom Golisano
The Politician and Golisano announce an exciting opportunity for the tax payers to subsidize housing for the wealthy.
Bina Boos
The Developer, the Politician, and Tom Golisano
The Politician and Golisano announce an exciting opportunity for the tax payers to subsidize housing for the wealthy.
Bina Boos
A Press Conference in 1 Act:
Location: Behind Waterfront Place Condos
Time: 4:00 PM
Designated “Cast”:
Politician: Eric Gallion
Developer: Roger Cook
Condo Buyer: Harrison Watkins
Foreclosed Home Owner: Jane Piazza
Unemployed Worker: Rachel Wilson
Activist: Eric Walker
Act 1: The Press Conference (Politician, Developer, and Condo Buyer stand next to each other, behind podium)
Politician: “We are gathered here today to celebrate the opening of the Waterfront Place Condos. It has been my honor to pave the way for these condos to be built in a tax-free zone, spurring economic development that only the wealthy can afford. This development is a perfect example of creatively using the Empire Zone program, which was originally intended to promote investment and job creation in poorer areas, to subsidize luxury condos for the entitled elite. Without further ado, I would like to introduce the developer who had the courage to take advantage of these subsidies in the third poorest city in the country when he could have built these condos with his own money.”
(Crowd Boos)
Developer: “Thank you. But with all due respect, I have to cry poverty. Even though my rich development company has saved nearly $1 million in sales tax on building materials alone, I will only make an outrageous profit here, rather than an obscene one.”
(Crowd Boos)
“This will be a great deal for those who can afford to buy one of these luxury condos. And to those who can afford them, these condos are a steal – literally. You will not have to pay your property taxes for seven years. We will give that responsibility to our already over-burdened middle and lower class tax-payers. If the condo buyer next to me had to start paying property taxes immediately, he probably couldn’t afford to buy a $1 million condo, but would have had to have settled for a $700,000 condo. He is entitled to this subsidy, just like everyone else around here. We need more public housing for the rich. I should also add that the electric bills of condo buyers will be subsidized by tax-payers.
Now, I would like to introduce another pioneer who was also brave enough to take advantage of tax-breaks when he certainly can afford to pay his own property taxes.
(Crowd Boos)
Condo Buyer: “I am buying a $1 million penthouse here. Because of your unwitting generosity, I will save tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes every year and hundreds of thousands of dollars over ten years. These subsidies benefitting myself and the other wealthy condo buyers are merely the price YOU and average tax-payers have to pay to promote development. And I think the price you have to pay is worth it – just look at the view I am going to have while I am sitting in my Jacuzzi.
Foreclosed Home Owner: (interrupting) “I just lost my home. It was foreclosed upon. Are there any subsidies available for me so I could keep my home?”
Developer: If you can afford one these condos you can get the subsidy. Units are still available for $1 million.
Politician: Government handouts are not for the likes of you; they are only for irresponsible banks and unaccountable corporations who we deem too big to fail. Instead, I would like to give you the opportunity to help pay for these condos.
Unemployed Worker: I recently lost my job because of the criminal actions of the banking industry. Will this development create jobs or is it just another entitlement for the wealthy?
Developer: Will this development create jobs? Of course it will, but don’t ask us how many or what they pay, because you might not be happy with what you are getting for your money. That brings us to the conclusion of this press conference. Tom Golisano and I have to go to Albany to buy some politicians with your money.
(Golisano and Developer walk off followed by Politician. An activist steps to the podium to speak)
Activist: Hold on. Turns out you aren’t destined for Albany. We have tickets for you to go back to Florida. It’s time for an early retirement. And it’s time for us to get our money’s worth. We need development that can build our neighborhoods, and create quality jobs, health care, and housing for all.
(Crowd Cheers)
We have a better plan for NY than these guys. Stop the subsidies. Let’s start with these IDAs and Empire Zone subsidies.
The Governor is working on a plan to ensure that when IDAs take our money they create good jobs. Call the Governor right now and tell him we want IDA reform. Get out your cell phone now. Call 518-474-8390 and tell Governor Patterson you want IDA reform. That’s 518-474-8390 for IDA reform.
Time: 4:00 PM
Designated “Cast”:
Politician: Eric Gallion
Developer: Roger Cook
Condo Buyer: Harrison Watkins
Foreclosed Home Owner: Jane Piazza
Unemployed Worker: Rachel Wilson
Activist: Eric Walker
Act 1: The Press Conference (Politician, Developer, and Condo Buyer stand next to each other, behind podium)
Politician: “We are gathered here today to celebrate the opening of the Waterfront Place Condos. It has been my honor to pave the way for these condos to be built in a tax-free zone, spurring economic development that only the wealthy can afford. This development is a perfect example of creatively using the Empire Zone program, which was originally intended to promote investment and job creation in poorer areas, to subsidize luxury condos for the entitled elite. Without further ado, I would like to introduce the developer who had the courage to take advantage of these subsidies in the third poorest city in the country when he could have built these condos with his own money.”
(Crowd Boos)
Developer: “Thank you. But with all due respect, I have to cry poverty. Even though my rich development company has saved nearly $1 million in sales tax on building materials alone, I will only make an outrageous profit here, rather than an obscene one.”
(Crowd Boos)
“This will be a great deal for those who can afford to buy one of these luxury condos. And to those who can afford them, these condos are a steal – literally. You will not have to pay your property taxes for seven years. We will give that responsibility to our already over-burdened middle and lower class tax-payers. If the condo buyer next to me had to start paying property taxes immediately, he probably couldn’t afford to buy a $1 million condo, but would have had to have settled for a $700,000 condo. He is entitled to this subsidy, just like everyone else around here. We need more public housing for the rich. I should also add that the electric bills of condo buyers will be subsidized by tax-payers.
Now, I would like to introduce another pioneer who was also brave enough to take advantage of tax-breaks when he certainly can afford to pay his own property taxes.
(Crowd Boos)
Condo Buyer: “I am buying a $1 million penthouse here. Because of your unwitting generosity, I will save tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes every year and hundreds of thousands of dollars over ten years. These subsidies benefitting myself and the other wealthy condo buyers are merely the price YOU and average tax-payers have to pay to promote development. And I think the price you have to pay is worth it – just look at the view I am going to have while I am sitting in my Jacuzzi.
Foreclosed Home Owner: (interrupting) “I just lost my home. It was foreclosed upon. Are there any subsidies available for me so I could keep my home?”
Developer: If you can afford one these condos you can get the subsidy. Units are still available for $1 million.
Politician: Government handouts are not for the likes of you; they are only for irresponsible banks and unaccountable corporations who we deem too big to fail. Instead, I would like to give you the opportunity to help pay for these condos.
Unemployed Worker: I recently lost my job because of the criminal actions of the banking industry. Will this development create jobs or is it just another entitlement for the wealthy?
Developer: Will this development create jobs? Of course it will, but don’t ask us how many or what they pay, because you might not be happy with what you are getting for your money. That brings us to the conclusion of this press conference. Tom Golisano and I have to go to Albany to buy some politicians with your money.
(Golisano and Developer walk off followed by Politician. An activist steps to the podium to speak)
Activist: Hold on. Turns out you aren’t destined for Albany. We have tickets for you to go back to Florida. It’s time for an early retirement. And it’s time for us to get our money’s worth. We need development that can build our neighborhoods, and create quality jobs, health care, and housing for all.
(Crowd Cheers)
We have a better plan for NY than these guys. Stop the subsidies. Let’s start with these IDAs and Empire Zone subsidies.
The Governor is working on a plan to ensure that when IDAs take our money they create good jobs. Call the Governor right now and tell him we want IDA reform. Get out your cell phone now. Call 518-474-8390 and tell Governor Patterson you want IDA reform. That’s 518-474-8390 for IDA reform.
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